Miniature rose plant

ABSTRACT

The subject of the present disclosure is a new and distinct variety of miniature rose plant characterized by the multi-color buds and flowers of yellow blended with pink, orange and scarlet and by the profusion of bloom.

The present invention relates to a new and distinct variety of hardy,dwarf, bush type rose plant of the miniature class; the variety beingprimarily characterized -- as to novelty -- by the multi-color buds andflowers of yellow blended with pink, orange and scarlet, which ingeneral color effect are similar to Circus, a Floribunda variety (U.S.Plant Pat. No. 1,382, expired).

The variety is further characterized by:

An abundance of bloom, with flowers usually borne singly on sturdy,slender stems.

Sweet light fragrance.

A plant which is vigorous, of rounded somewhat upright shape with firmglossy, small foliage with pointed leaflets; the buds and flowers beingsimilar in form but slightly larger in size to Over the Rainbow(Miniature -- U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,472).

The plant, which has a normal height of 12-14 inches or more, can easilybe maintained at lesser height by occasional trimming.

A plant which grows and blooms satisfactorily both in greenhouse andoutdoors; is good for growing in pots; and provides excellent gardendecoration as well as cut flowers.

The present variety of miniature rose was originated by me at my nurserylocated at Dallas, Tex., under conditions of careful control andobservation, as a cross between an un-named seedling, as the seed parentand Over the Rainbow (miniature -- U.S. Plant Pat. No. 3,472), as thepollen parent.

Subsequent to origination of the variety I successfully reproduced it,at my nursery located as aforesaid, by cuttings; the reproductionshaving run true in all respects.

The color photograph illustrates the variety, including the foliage,buds and flowers.

Referring now specifically to the new and distinct variety of miniaturerose plant, the following is a detailed description thereof in outline;all major color plate identifications being by reference to the BritishColour Council Horticultural Colour Chart, except where common terms ofcolor definition are employed.

Type: Hardy; dwarf; bushy; upright; seedling; greenhouse; outdoors; cutflowers; garden decoration; potted plant.

Class: Miniature.

Variety name: Sarajean.

Flowers borne: Usually singly on slender wirey stems.

Quantity of bloom: Abundant both outside and in greenhouse.

Bud:

Peduncle.--Medium length; slender but sturdy; erect; medium green,sometimes tinted bronze (outdoors); Hairs -- few or none.

Before calyx breaks.--Size -- small. Form -- medium long, pointed withsome foliaceous apendages and few or no tiny hairs on surface of bud;with foliaceous parts extending beyond the tip of the bud equal toone-half or more of its length. Color -- medium green, occasionallytinted with bronze (outdoors).

As calyx breaks.--Color -- red -- over yellow. Opening: opens well inall weather.

Bloom:

Size when fully open.--Small, averaging about 30 mm (11/4").

Petalage.--Double -- averaging about 50 petals, arranged regularly plussometimes several small petaloids.

Form.--Globular at first, becoming more open in the center, with petalsreflexing loosely outward, and later at maturity, open and rolledloosely outward, and downward. Open flowers may show stamens.

Petals: Fairly thick; satinly on inside and on outside surface.

Shape.--Outside petals, broad lanceolate (almost round) with roundedtip; intermediate -- broad lanceolate with rounded tip; inside --lanceolate with rounded tip.

Color: Newly opened flower from a plant grown (Apr. 1980), Dallas, Tex.:

Outside petal.--Outside surface -- near Buttercup Yellow 5/3 (sometimesdarker), often brushed or overlaid down center of petal with red ororange, the exact color depending upon intensity of underlying yellowand of the overlay of red (this is determined to great extent by lightintensity and can vary from flower to flower and time of year. Insidesurface -- near Buttercup Yellow 5/3 (may be lighter or darker yellow,as above) with the tip 1/4 or more of petal tinted or overlaid with red(near Mandarin Red 17/2) of varying intensity, depending upon sunlightand weather conditions. Note: as petals mature/age (see colorillustration) the red becomes darker (approaching Currant Red 821/1) butmodified by the underlying color which becomes near white.

Intermediate petal.--Outside surface -- similar to outside petal, butmore yellow (near Buttercup Yellow 5/3 -- may be darker or lighter) areawith only a slight tint of orange or red. Inside surface -- similar tooutside petal -- but with less of the red or orange shading.

Inner petal.--Outside surface -- similar to intermediate petal; insidesurface -- similar to intermediate petal. General color effect; newlyopened flower -- yellow to peach pink with outer edge (petal tip) tintedwith red. Three days open -- color similar to newly opened flowers butyellow area becoming more peach to red in color. Behavior -- opens wellin all weather. Color lasts well even in hot weather. Red coloring mostpronounced in full sunlight (outdoors) -- more yellow and pink ingreenhouse. Spent petals drop off. Flower longevity (April 1980) --plant in pot 6-8 days or longer. Cut flowers at living room temperature4-5 days or longer.

Reproductive organs:

Stamens.--Few; arranged regularly about pistils.

Filaments.--Varying length, fairly short, yellow.

Anthers.--Some not well formed; yellow.

Pollen.--Little or none.

Pistils.--Average number.

Styles.--Fairly even; medium to short length; bunched; color -- reddish.

Ovaries.--All enclosed in calyx.

Hips.--Few or none.

Sepals.--Permanent; spear shaped; recurved against peduncle.

Seed.--None.

Foliage:

Leaves.--Compound of five (sometimes three or seven) leaflets; fairlysmall; leathery; glossy.

Leaflets.--Shape: broad, nearly oval; apex acute; base rounded. Marginserrate. Color: dark green to bronzy; new growth -- normal (medium)green. Rachis: medium strength; upper side may have a few tiny shortprickles or hairs, grooved. Underside -- several small hooked thornswith few or no tiny prickles. Stipules: medium long; narrow to mediumwidth; medium length; narrow points which turn out usually at about 45degrees or more.

Growth:

Habit.--Dwarf; bushy; upright; much branched.

Growth.--Free vigorous; internodes short.

Canes.--Medium; slender; sturdy.

Main stems.--Color: medium green.

Thorns.--Average; slender; nearly straight, inclined slightly downward;color; brown (tan). Prickles -- none. Hairs -- none.

Branches.--Color: medium green. Thorns: moderate number; medium length;slender; nearly straight, inclined downward. Medium oval base. Prickles:none. Hairs -- none.

The miniature rose plant and its flowers as herein described may vary inslight detail due to climatic, soil and cultural conditions under whichthe variety may be grown; the present description being of the varietyas grown at Dallas, Tex.

The following is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct variety of miniaturerose plant of hardy, dwarf, bushy, upright, much branched habit,substantially as illustrated and described, characterized by buds andflowers of a rich blend of yellow, peach pink, orange and red, the budand flower resembling the variety Circus (U.S. Plant Pat. No. 1,382,expired) in color and resembling the variety Over the Rainbow in formand size; and further characterized by a plant of vigorous and compactgrowth habit, easy to propagate from cuttings or by budding, with anabundance of small to medium size glossy foliage and an abundance offlowers borne usually singly on sturdy wirey stems.